1. The Bill of Rights

2. Government by the State
Individual states started writing their own Constitutions to minimize the power of state governors.
States wanted to protect individual rights.
Virginia was the first state to include a bill of rights in its constitution.

3. Bill of Rights Background
Writing a Bill of Rights for the Constitution became one of the first tasks for the new Congress that met in March 1789.
Framers of the Constitution created a way to amend (change) the Constitution (Article 5).
The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.

4. Bill of Rights 1st Amendment:
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition.
Fact: Thomas Jefferson (our 3rd president) inspired freedom of Religion in the United States. He also believed in separation of Church and State.

5. 2nd Amendment:
The Right to bear arms.
3rd Amendment:
Congress can not force citizens to keep troops in their homes

6. 4th Amendment:
Search and Seizures: authorities can not search a citizen’s property with out a warrant or probable cause.

7. 5th Amendment:
Criminal Proceedings: Due Process; Eminent Domain.
6th Amendment:
Criminal Proceeding: right to a speedy trial by jury.

8. 7th Amendment:
Civil Trials: People have a right to a trial by jury in lawsuits.
8th Amendment:
Punishment for Crimes: forbids excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

9. 9th Amendment:
Unenumerated Rights: Rights are not limited to those written in the Bill of Rights.
10th Amendment:
Powers reserved to the States: Powers not written in the Constitution go to the states.